Social Emotional Specialist - Early Learning Services

Please send resumes to jobs@eastersealschicgo.org
POSITION:   Social Emotional Specialist
 
REPORTS TO:  Inclusion and Mental Health Manager
 
 
POSITION SUMMARY:
 
Under the direction of the Inclusion and Mental Health Manager, provides expertise, training, and consultation in mental health services for Easterseals Early Learning services in compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, and the Illinois State Board of Education requirements.   The Social Emotional Specialist, in collaboration with the Inclusion and Mental Health Manager, develops and monitors systems for identification, referral and planning for children with Social Emotional concerns. The Social Emotional Specialist is responsible for the delivery of all Social Emotional services, including classroom observations and staffing, Social Emotional education to families, training to staff, and referrals of parents and children.
 
MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Planning and Program Services:

• Assist in the development of policies, procedures, and plans and the implementation of systems to ensure consistent, high quality disability services at all Early Learning Services programs in accordance with best practices and all funder and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct Classroom and Individual Child Observations and provide feedback with individualized strategies.
• Create and assist in the implementation of behavior plans.
• Provide training to staff, teachers and parents in the area of Mental Health in accordance with the Head Start Standards and Head Start Act.
• Provide Crisis Counseling to Head Start families and teachers as needed.
• Participate in Parent Orientation.
• Assist in program planning for mental health services based on analysis of child, program, and family outcomes.
• Participate on the School Readiness Team and the development and implementation of the School Readiness Plan as part of an integrated Leadership Team.
• Participate in program planning and implementation of all service areas as part of an integrated leadership team.
• Participate in enrollment and recruitment as part of the Head Start/Early Head Start Team and ensure that the program is fully enrolled.
• Participate in the self-assessment process and strategic planning.

Record Keeping, Reporting and Communication:

• Track the hours that sites, children and families are served.

 

• Ensure mental health information is entered into Child Plus in a timely manner.

 

• Prepare monthly reports with updates and progress of sites and children served.
• Participate in regularly scheduled content area, and other meetings.
• Travel to Easterseals and partner sites regularly.

Ongoing Monitoring:

• Assist in the development and implementation of a system to ensure that all children and families that are identified as benefiting from mental health services receive support in a timely manner.
• Assist in the development and implementation of a system for supporting children with behavioral concerns, including a behavior review process and behavior plans.
• Implement and participate in monitoring systems for ensuring the active supervision and safety of children so that no child is ever left alone or unsupervised.

Human Resources:

• Implement reflective and relationship based practices.
• Collaborate and provide guidance to the Instructional Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, and Inclusion Classroom Assistants in the area of Social Emotional Development.

 

• All other duties as assigned.

 
Qualifications:
 
Education/Certification:

• M.A. Clinical Counseling and LPC in the State of Illinois.
• LCSW preferred.

 
Experience Required:

• 3 years of early childhood experience.
• Experience in Head Start/Early Head Start.
• Home visiting experience preferred.

 
Required Knowledge:

• Early Childhood Development.
• Head Start Performance Standards.
• MS Office.

 
Vehicle/Transportation Requirements:

• Valid driver's license.
•  Auto insurance.
•  Reliable vehicle.

 
Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to demonstrate cultural competence and sensitivity while using reflective practices with a diverse population.
• Able to work well with all levels of the organization, partner sites, other agencies and funding source personnel.
• Demonstrates the ability to conceptualize and articulate program outcomes.
• Well organized, highly detail oriented and accuracy driven.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

 
 
 
 
ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.